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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases

Tuesday, March 22 -- Monday, March 28

All DVD Releases

  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

    photo for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 The film version of the second half of Suzanne Collins' final "Hunger Games" book tidies up all the loose ends engendered by Part 1 as the 13 districts of the dystopian future America (Panem) go to war against the power of the Capitol. As the rebels move on the government, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) -- now taking on the symbolic role of the Mockingjay -- teams up with a group comprised of hardened guerilla fighters and her closest friends to liberate the citizens of war-torn Panem and assassinate President Snow (played delightfully nasty by the always-smirking Donald Sutherland). Most of the film is given over to this platoon of fighters making their way to the heart of the city, where they must face mortal traps, dangerous enemies and moral choices. Most of the time the rebels make narrow video-game-style escapes (seemingly recycled from other sci-fi films, notably an attack by a group of white-skinned underground genetically engineered creatures called "mutts") but the action is still fast and furious -- and you know who to root for. It's stirring and fun, and, as always, it's a pleasure to watch Lawrence take command of the screen. And, oh yes, there's treachery and hidden agendas galore as the film winds down. Revenge is sweet and the ending -- as would be expected -- is warm and sweet. The Blu-ray combo set contain more than five hours of special features. Vitals: Director: Francis Lawrence. Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Willow Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Liam Hemsworth, Jeffrey Wright, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman. 2015, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 137 min., Action, Box office gross: $280.302 million, Lionsgate. Extras: Audio commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson; "The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey"; "Cinna's Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor"; "Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition." Blu-ray adds "Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" eight-part documentary: "Walking Through Fire" (on concluding the saga), "Real or Not Real" (on visual design), "High-Value Targets" (on the acting ensemble), From Head to Toe" (costume, make-up & hair), "Navigating the Minefield" (production in Atlanta, Paris & Berlin), "Collateral Damage" (stunts, special effects & weapons), "Tightening the Noose" (the post-production process), and "A Different World" (reflections); "Jet to the Set." 3 stars


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  • Daddy’s Home

    photo for Daddy’s Home "Daddy's Home" is a by-the-book comedy about mild-mannered radio executive Brad (Will Ferrell) and his trials and tribulations as he tries to become the best step dad possible to his new wife's (Linda Cardellini) two kids. Unfortunately, when biological father Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) shows up unexpectedly, Brad's idyllic family life is turned upside down and he has to go toe-to-toe with Dusty to prove he's the better dad. The results, of course, are predictable -- brainy Brad just can't keep up with brawny Dusty, and he must figure out new ways to get the upper hand, resulting in typical Will Ferrell loser-persona comedy situations. Still, there's plenty of laughs to go around -- and you can't knock the presence of the always likeable Wahlberg.Vitals: Director: Sean Anders. Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church, Scarlett Estevez, Owen Vaccaro, Bobby Cannavale, Hannibal Buress. 2015, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 96 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $145.237 million, Paramount. Blu-ray extras: "The Making of Daddy's Home" behind-the-scenes featurette with cast interviews; "Daddy-Off" discussion between Ferrell and Wahlberg about how their characters compete to be the "Best Dad" and how they eventually learn to share a common ground; "Daddy Daughter Dance" behind-the-scenes; "Halftime Stunt"; "Tony Hawk: Skater Double" ultimate reveal as world-famous skateboarder Tony Hawk gets back on the halfpipe while doubling for Will Farrell's character during the epic skateboard stand-off between dads; "Child's Play" piece showcasing the talent of the child actors who play "Dylan" and "Megan"; "Hannibal Buress: The Perfect Houseguest" unfiltered featurette about rising comedic star Hannibal Buress and how he became involved in the film; "Blooper - Jeet Kune Do" as Ferrell and Wahlberg attempt to tell the perfect bedtime story; deleted and extended scenes. 2 stars




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    All DVD Releases

    All Hell Breaks Loose (2014) Ehren McGhehey, Casey Vann. A murdered groom tries to save his wife's soul with the help of the local sheriff, a priest, and a cowboy who just might be God. When the Satan's Sinners, a vicious biker gang, attack a bride and groom on their wedding day, they get a fight they never imagined. Armed with some divine intervention and firepower, the murdered groom is out to save his wife any way he can before she's sacrificed to Satan ... even if it means dying over and over again until the job is done. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary with director Jeremy Garner, deleted scenes. (Wild Eye Releasing).

    photo for Black Mama, White Mama Black Mama, White Mama (1973) Before her iconic turn in "Coffy," Pam Grier starred alongside Margaret Markov in a grindhouse spin on Stanley Kramer's "The Defiant Ones," fusing the Women in Prison films with the emerging Blaxploitation movement for a riotous romp of bullets, babes and blood. Lee (Grier), a tough prostitute and Karen (Markov), a revolutionary, are admitted to a tough women's prison where almost immediately (after some playful showering that prefigures Porky's) they clash. Packed off to a maximum security prison, their transport is ambushed by Karen's guerrilla friends and the two escape into the Filipino jungle. Chained together and with differing escape plans their clash intensifies as Lee wants to retrieve a stash of stolen cash to get her off the island and Karen wants to re-join her revolutionary group. Features a brilliant Sid Haig performance. The script was co-written by Jonathan Demme. The Harry Betts score was sampled by Quentin Tarantino for "Kill Bill." Also known as "Women in Chains" and "Hot, Hard and Mean." Original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray). Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Commentary by filmmaker Andrew Leavold, director of "The Search for Weng Weng"; "White Mama" interview with Margaret Markov; "Sid's Filipino Adventure" interview with Sid Haig; "The Mad Director of Blood Island": A previously unseen archive interview with director Eddie Romero; trailer; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

    A Brighter Summer Day (1991) Among the most praised and sought-after titles in all contemporary film, this singular masterpiece of Taiwanese cinema, directed by Edward Yang ("Yi Yi"), finally comes to home video in the United States. Set in the early sixties in Taiwan, "A Brighter Summer Day" is based on the true story of a crime that rocked the nation. A film of both sprawling scope and tender intimacy, this novelistic, patiently observed epic centers on the gradual, inexorable fall of a young teenager ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's" Chen Chang, in his first role) from innocence to juvenile delinquency, and is set against a simmering backdrop of restless youth, rock 'n' roll, and political turmoil. New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: New audio commentary featuring critic Tony Rayns; new interview with actor Chen Chang; "Our Time, Our Story," a 117-minute documentary from 2002 about the New Taiwan Cinema movement, featuring interviews with Yang and filmmakers Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tsai Ming-liang, among others; videotaped performance of director Edward Yang's 1992 play "Likely Consequence"; an essay by critic Godfrey Cheshire and a 1991 director's statement by Yang. (The Criterion Collection).

    photo for Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs (2015) Rib Hillis, Casey Fitzgerald, Eric Roberts. When Val Walker, a former rodeo cowboy, returns to his hometown in search of a job, he isn't exactly welcomed back with open arms. His former flame, Sky, is all the wrong kinds of emotional about his return, and nobody in town is hiring people in his position. Needless to say, things aren't going too well, and they only get worse when an explosion at the local mine unleashes a series of dinosaurs onto the town. Using his skills as a cowboy, Val must take on an army of prehistoric beasts if he wants to survive the event, and inevitably win back the girl of his dreams. Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).

    Daddy's Home (2015) Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church, Scarlett Estevez, Owen Vaccaro, Bobby Cannavale, Hannibal Buress. step dad Brad Whitaker is a radio host trying to get his stepchildren to love him and call him Dad. But his plans get turned upside down when the kids biological father, Dusty Mayron, returns. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: "The Making of Daddy's Home" behind-the-scenes featurette with cast interviews; "Daddy-Off" discussion between Ferrell and Wahlberg about how their characters compete to be the "Best Dad" and how they eventually learn to share a common ground; "Daddy Daughter Dance" behind-the-scenes; "Halftime Stunt"; "Tony Hawk: Skater Double" ultimate reveal as world-famous skateboarder Tony Hawk gets back on the halfpipe while doubling for Will Farrell's character during the epic skateboard stand-off between dads; "Child's Play" piece showcasing the talent of the child actors who play "Dylan" and "Megan"; "Hannibal Buress: The Perfect Houseguest" unfiltered featurette about rising comedic star Hannibal Buress and how he became involved in the film; "Blooper - Jeet Kune Do" as Ferrell and Wahlberg attempt to tell the perfect bedtime story; deleted and extended scenes. (Paramount).



    photo for Disturbing Behavior BLU-RAY DEBUT Disturbing Behavior BLU-RAY DEBUT (1998) James Marsden, Katie Holmes, Nick Stahl. The new kid in town stumbles across something sinister about the town's method of transforming its unruly teens into upstanding citizens. In the halls of Cradle Bay High School, something sinister is happening -- something dark -- something disturbing. Sure, the "Blue Ribbons" -- the clique that's at the top of the food chain at Cradle Bay -- appear perfect in every way. But underneath their clean-cut, well-mannered facades lurks a shocking secret -- one that a group of Cradle Bay High's outsiders and rebels must uncover in order to save their school, their town ... and their own lives.Extras: Audio commentary by director David Nutter, theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, alternate ending. (Scream Factory).

    Dreams Rewired (2015) An amazing combination of scientific, dramatic, educational, erotic, experimental, and political films, assembled from nearly 200 films," Dreams Rewired" forges a cross-generational connection between contemporary viewers and our idealistic fore-bearers. Through years of research in archives around the world, the filmmakers have unearthed material that is by turns hilarious, revelatory, aesthetically striking, and astonishingly prescient. Every age thinks it's the modern age ... but this one really is new: a time of always-on connectivity, ubiquitous computing, and the acceleration of everything. With the current super-abundance of information, our own age couldn't be more different from those that came before... or could it? Tilda Swinton's voiceover and a treasure trove of archival footage films culled from the 1880s to the 1930s -- much of it rare or previously unseen -- combine to trace contemporary appetites and anxieties back to the birth of the telephone, television and cinema. "Dreams Rewired" shows the ways that the social convulsions of today's hyper-mediated world were already prefigured over 100 years ago, during the electric media boom of the late 19th-century. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Icarus Films).

    photo for Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series Collector's Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series Collector's Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1999-2000) Nine-disc set with all 18 episodes, remastered from new 4K scans of the original camera negatives, in both original 1.33:1 broadcast aspect ratio and an enhanced 1.78:1 widescreen presentation that unveils never-before-seen expanded footage. Set in 1980 at the fictional McKinley High in Detroit, "Freaks and Geeks" focused on two groups of outsiders: the stoners, tough kids and bad girls; and the brains, nerds and squares. Although this Emmy award-winning series ran for only one season, it has remained a cult favorite and a benchmark of quality television. A funny and authentic portrait of high school life with all of its horrors and triumphs, the series resonates with anybody who has ever felt like they don’t quite fit in. The series' legacy -- including the ongoing success of many of its key personnel, from creator Paul Feig ("Bridesmaids"), to executive producer Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year Old Virgin"), to cast members such as Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel -- is undoubtedly secure in the hearts and minds of its passionate (and ever-growing) fan base. $119.00. Extras: New conversation with creator Paul Feig and executive producer Judd Apatow; includes a special features disc with extras and audio commentaries from both "The Complete Series DVD" set (2004) and "The Yearbook Edition" set (2008); 29 commentaries; more than two hours of audition footage and deleted scenes from every episode; outtakes, bloopers and alternate takes from each episode; behind-the-scenes footage; original show promotional footage; new booklet packed with a letter and Q&A from creators Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, essays, and memorabilia. (Shout! Factory).

    photo for >The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015) Jennifer Lawrence, Willow Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Liam Hemsworth, Jeffrey Wright, Donald Sutherland. The Blu-ray combo set contain more than five hours of special features. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Audio commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson; "The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey"; "Cinna's Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor"; "Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition." Blu-ray adds "Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" eight-part documentary: "Walking Through Fire" (on concluding the saga), "Real or Not Real" (on visual design), "High-Value Targets" (on the acting ensemble), From Head to Toe" (costume, make-up & hair), "Navigating the Minefield" (production in Atlanta, Paris & Berlin), "Collateral Damage" (stunts, special effects & weapons), "Tightening the Noose" (the post-production process), and "A Different World" (reflections); "Jet to the Set." (Lionsgate).

    photo for The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection Includes "The Hunger Games," "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2," with all of the special features from each film's initial release plus hours of all-new exclusive content including 13 never-before-seen deleted scenes from "The Hunger Games" and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" as well as two all-new featurettes: "Picturing Panem" and "Capitol Cuisine," audio commentaries, music videos and more. Formats: DVD: $54.98, Blu-ray Disc: $64.97, Digital. (Lionsgate).

    The Letters (2015) Juliet Stevenson, Max von Sydow, Rutger Hauer. Based on the true story of Mother Teresa, told through a series of personal letters written to her longtime friend and spiritual advisor. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Audio commentary featuring director William Riead, Rutger Hauer and Priya Darshini; "Behind the Scenes of The Letters." (Fox).


    photo for >Maude: Season Four Maude: Season Four (1975-76) Three-set with all 24 episodes. Bea Arthur is back for another round of comedy from one of television's true creative masters, Norman Lear. The one-of-a-kind Maude Findlay has always been a political animal, but Season Four finds her stepping up her game in a big way, when she considers a run for the State Senate. And she really shows off her independent streak when she spearheads a campaign to elect Hollywood star Henry Fonda as President of the United States — whether Mr. Fonda wants the job or not. With a tremendous supporting cast of Bill Macy, Adrienne Barbeau, Conrad Bain, Rue McClanahan and Hermione Baddeley. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).

    Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef (2016) The ghoulfriends of Monster High splash into a whole new world. When the ghouls get pulled into the school pool, they're transported to the gore-geous underwater world of the photo for Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef Great Scarrier Reef. Lagoona realizes she's come home and, in a fintastic mission of the heart, decides to come to terms with her own freaky flaws. Of course she'll need some help from the most creeperiffic friends ever as she confronts a frenemy from her past, competes in a scaretastic dance extravaganza, and fights a terrible beast from the deep. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Ever After High" special: Way Too Wonderland." (Universal).

    Noma: My Perfect Storm (2015) Feature-length documentary about the celebrated chef Rene Redzepi set against the backdrop of the Copenhagen-based restaurant, Noma, voted "The Best Restaurant In The World" for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. Famous for its reinvention of Danish cuisine and pioneered approach to "foraging" -- sourcing nearly all ingredients from the various environments of Scandinavia -- Noma is at the forefront of experimenting with new techniques in food. The film follows chef and co-owner Redzepi on a creative culinary journey as he traverses the Danish landscape for inspiration, striving to achieve perfection and concoct bold, exciting dishes for travelers from around the world. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, "Testing the Menu," Noma cuisine gallery, trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).

    photo for Perry Mason Movie Collection: Volume 5 Perry Mason Movie Collection: Volume 5 The final made-for-TV movie collection starring Raymond Burr as Erle Stanley Gardner's famous defense lawyer. Perry Mason once again delves into a world of theft, deception, and homicide to passionately fight for justice, exonerate the innocent and fight against injustices within the courtroom. The movies: "The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host" (1993), "The Case of the Killer Kiss" (1993), "The Case of the Wicked Wives" (1993), "The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle" (1994), "The Case of the Grimacing Governor" (1994) and "The Case of the Jealous Jokester" (1995). Formats: DVD: $57.99. (CBS/Paramount).

    The Royals: Season Two (2015) Three-disc set with all 10 episodes of the salacious E! series, $29.98. After the tragic murder of King Simon by an unknown assailant, Simon's arrogant brother, Cyrus, has taken the throne with the help of Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley). Prince Liam (William Moseley) seeks vengeance for the death of his father while Princess Eleanor (Alexandra Park) struggles to live her seemingly fairytale life. While allies are formed and enemies are made in the royal palace, nothing is what it seems. Formats:DVD, Digital. (Lionsgate).

    photo for Turn: Washington's Spies -- The Complete Second Season Turn: Washington's Spies -- The Complete Second Season (2015) Three-disc set with all 10 episodes of the AMC series that reveals the true stories of the turncoats of the American Revolution who gave birth to modern spycraft during the battle for independence. In this season, the Patriot cause has suffered the crushing loss of their capital city of Philadelphia to the British. Washington's army faces desertion and death, and the embattled General faces conspirators from within his own ranks, as well as personal demons he keeps hidden from the men he leads. Washington s closest ally in these dark times is also his most celebrated battle commander, Benedict Arnold a friend whose growing discontent will threaten the fate of the Revolution. Outnumbered and outgunned on the battlefield, Washington is counting on his ring of young spies and his greatest hope, Abe Woodhull, a lone civilian deep behind enemy lines, who finds he has little left to lose and is willing to risk everything he has left... including his soul. Formats: DVD. Extras: Inside "Turn: Washington's Spies," deleted and extended scenes, "A Treacherous Trio", "Washington & Billy Lee." (Anchor Bay).


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